THE SIERRA LEONE CONFLICT: LESSONS FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

THE SIERRA LEONE CONFLICT: LESSONS FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Abstract:

This research is about the Sierra Leone crisis and the lessons emanating from the crisis with regard to developing countries. The work was set out to find out if everything went on the way it is supposed to be in the ECOMOG operations. Sierra Leone is a West African country and member of ECOWAS which got involved in internal mutiny by the RUF. Moreover, there were military coup d’etats that toppled democratically elected governments. When the rebels engaged in ignoble and condemnable acts, there were international outcries including the member-states of ECOWAS. It took the intervention of ECOMOG to restore the government of Alhaji Tejan Kabbah. This study found that the decision to introduce ECOMOG troops by members of ECOWAS gave rise to a number of lessons. These lessons could be very important for developing countries when faced with similar problems in future. For example, there was no national interest at heart before Nigeria decided to lead ECOMOG into Sierra Leone. Other lessons include lack of military training of Sierra Leone Army, lack of logistic backup to ECOMOG troops, lack of adequate and timely intelligence for lower level field commanders and a host of other lessons. The study used secondary data from various sources as well as conducted interview with some ECOMOG veterans from Nigerian contingents who served in Sierra Leone. On the basis of these findings, implications and recommendations were advanced to assist developing countries that may be involved in conflict or conflict resolutions in future

THE SIERRA LEONE CONFLICT: LESSONS FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES